Panama Canal History - Panama Canal Information - Veneto Panama

Panama Canal InformationThe Panama Canal is a 48 mile long international waterway that connects the AtlanticOcean and the Pacific Ocean. It was fundamental to the development of maritimetrade in the Americas and helped create a more robust trading industry. All togetherit saves about 8,000 miles of travelling from a long and difficult journey around thesouthern tip of South America.

History of the Panama Canal

The idea of cutting out a route through Panama in order to enable fastertransportation from the resource rich regions of Peru, Ecuador, and Asia to portsin Europe were made as early as the 16th century. A working plan for a canal wasactually drawn up around 1529, but due to ongoing war in Europe the project was puton hold indefinitely.

In the early 19th century German scientist Alexander Von Humboldt revived interestin the Canal project. The Spanish government officially authorized the construction ofsuch a canal and the creation of a company to build it. The gold rush in 1848 furtherpiqued the America’s interest in the canal, and after various surveys an internationalcompany was formed in 1876. This company ultimately failed and in 1880 a Frenchcompany was organized by Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps, the builder of the SuezCanal.

Panama Canal Construction

The construction of the Panama Canal occurred in two main stages. The first wasfrom 1881 to 1888 and was carried out by the French company headed by deLesseps. The second part was taken over by Americans who completed the processbetween 1904 and 1914.

The French faced great difficulties in terms of rain induced landslides, diseases anda general lack of experience. When the United States took over the project, these difficult conditions were brought under control and the Panama Railway was used asefficiently as possible. The building of the canal was completed in 1914 – two yearsahead of the target date – and it was formally opened on August 15th.

Panama Canal Operation

The trip from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean is made much shorter by thePanama Canal. This was particularly important when it was completed in 1914 astravel by air was not yet possible for the masses.

Currently, it takes about fifteen hours to cross the three sets of locks of the PanamaCanal. Ships that pass through the canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Oceanmove from the northwest to the southeast due to the east-west orientation of theIsthmus of Panama.

Panama Canal Tourism

The Panama Canal is one of the greatest engineering marvels in the world and isvisited by thousands of people every year. It is amazing to see a massive containership pass through the realms of the Canal’s locks, especially when you consider thatthe passageway is entirely manmade.

There are various companies that will arrange for tours to and around the PanamaCanal. Moreover, there is much to see and do in Panama besides visit the canal. Youcan visit the Amador Causeway, take a historic ocean-to-ocean trans-isthmus trainride, or paint the town red by delving into its vibrant nightlife.

All in all, planning a trip to the Panama Canal and the surrounding area is a great wayto spend a vacation or holiday.